AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Spinoff in the Works at ABC

Fans of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. should be pleased to hear that the show may not be going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, the franchise looks to be expanding. EW reports that Marvel is currently developing an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff series for ABC as well. Executive producer Jeffrey Bell (Angel) and S.H.I.E.L.D. writer Paul Zbyszewski (Lost) are behind the proposed spinoff, but plot details are being kept firmly under lock and key in Odin’s vault.

Apparently there won’t even be a backdoor pilot for the spinoff this season (ie. an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode that sets up the new series), but elements from upcoming episodes will pave the way for the spinoff. In fact, by the end of the season, EW says the spinoff’s concept should be clear.

Image via ABC

The report cautions that a third season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn’t officially been ordered yet so there’s no guarantee that the spinoff series happens, but it appears that Marvel TV is planning for the best case scenario and getting a jump on developing what will be the studio’s latest TV outing. With Agent Carter not likely to return, it’s possible this spinoff would air during Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s midseason break.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn’t perform that well in the ratings, but the show has leveled off with a devoted fanbase that appears to be tuning in week after week. I stopped watched after the first handful of episodes because the series was, quite frankly, really boring despite the impeccably talented Clark Gregg doing his best with the material he was given, but I’m told the show’s gotten significantly better in Season 2 with the introduction of an Inhumans subplot. Could the alien species be the foundation for this upcoming spinoff show, or will Marvel try to hold most of that story for the planned Inhumans movie?

Image via ABC

Marvel recently tried out the concept of a shortened TV series in the form of Agent Carter, but that show’s ratings were even worse than Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s and didn’t exactly inspire enthusiasm from critics. The studio’s venture into the world of Netflix appears to be faring much better, with Daredevil receiving the best reviews from a Marvel TV series yet. They already have four more planned Netflix series in the pipeline, but with today’s news of an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff, it’s clear Marvel TV hasn’t given up on network television just yet.

What do you think about this, folks? Would you tune in for an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff? Which characters would you like to see cross over into the new show? Sound off in the comments below.

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